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If anything can be said about Ruger, the gun maker has never shied away from unique firearm designs. The 22 Charger is one shining example.

The .22 rimfire, introduced in 2007, cuts one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the world of firearms. Its long frame, with a 10-inch barrel and 10/22 receiver mounted on it, seemingly begs shooters to blow an afternoon or whole day plinking away.

After a short absence from the market, Ruger has reintroduced the Charger. And the New Hampshire/Arizona manufacturer appears to have thrown some interesting twists into the pistol’s design.

The most striking tweak Ruger has made is offering two models of the Charger. The company has retained the classic fixed frame, but also thrown a takedown model into the mix.

The new variant makes sense, given the size of the firearm. At 19.25-inches in overall length, the pistol definitely does not fall into the sub-compact category. With the ability to effectively halve the Charger’s length, the pistol will most likely make more camping trips and the like.

The takedown model weighs a hair more than the classic. It tips the scales at 3.22 pounds, 1.44 ounces more than the classic. And the takedown model has a green laminate stock, compared to the classic’s brown.

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The dissimilarities between the models, however, end there. Both models of the new Charger feature a number of upgrades that follow some popular shooting trends.

Ruger has embraced the modular movement with the new charger, outfitting them with A2-style pistol grips. The grips are familiar to a wide swath of the shooting world and can be easily swapped out with any preferred AR grips.

The takedown model of the 22 Charger makes the pistols size much more manageable.

The company has also made the gun easier to add optics to, doing away with the old scope base. A factory mounted Picatinny rail has taken its place, making a red-dot sight or scope a snap to throw on top of the receiver.

Ruger has also opted for more capacity with the Charger, including one BX-15, 15-round magazine. The earlier iteration of the pistol included Ruger’s 10-round rotary magazine.

Both Chargers, like the original, are shipped with a bi-pod, which can be attached to the stock without tools. It is held in place by a swivel stud, located at the forend of the firearm.

The pistols also have ½”-28 threaded barrels that accept most flash hiders and suppressors. The barrels themselves are cold hammer forged and boast 1:16” rifling.

Going pistol in 10/22 costs a bit more than going carbine. The classic Charger has an MSRP of $309, with the takedown model is listed at $409.

Elwood Shelton is an online content developer for Gun Digest. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains.

I think I need one of the take downs, but a 6″ barrel option would also be nice.

I do a lot of vacation time on a motorcycle, and a plinker that fits ln a saddle bag would be great. I currently carry an XP-100, but even tho I reload it’s expensive to shoot compared to a rimfire, and you can’t just walk into a hardware store and snag a box.